United States Wins $50,000 Samsung Nations’ Cup, Presented By Canadian National, To Highlight CSIO Wellington At The Cosequin Winter Equestrian Festival

Wellington, Florida—March 12, 2002—The United States show jumping squad of Margie Engle of Wellington, FL, Lauren Hough of Ocala, FL, Laura Kraut of Oconomowoc, WI and McLain Ward of Brewster, NY rode to victory in the $50,000 Samsung Nation’s Cup, presented by Canadian National at the Cosequin Winter Equestrian Festival.

The U.S. victory came over teams from Ireland, Canada and Argentina in the first outdoor Nation’s Cup (team show jumping combination) ever held in the U.S.

The U.S. finished the two-round competition with 16 faults to top Canada’s score of 29. Ireland was third with 32 faults and Argentina was fourth with 33. Hough, riding Clasiko, owned by the Clasiko Group, scored four faults in the first round then rode clean in the second. Kraut scored eight in each round on Anthem, owned by the Summit Syndicate. Ward rode Viktor, owned by Full Cry Farm, to a clean first round and then scored four faults in the second round. Engle, riding Hidden Creek’s Perin, owned by Hidden Creek Farm, rode a clean first round and then set out the second round as the U.S. win was already secured.

“This was an important win for us,” said USET Chef d’Equipe Frank Chapot. “Anytime you represent your country you feel pressure to win, but we really wanted this one since it was the first time it’s been held.”

Riding for Argentina were Martin Mallo, Guillermo Obligado, Ramiro Quintana and Federico Sztyrle. Three-time U.S. Olympic medalist Joe Fargis was Chef D’Equipe.

Riding for Ireland was Kevin Babington, Damian Gardner, Darragh Kearins and Cian O’Connor. John Ledingham was Chef d’Equipe for the Irish team.

Canada was represented by Eric Lamaze, Karen Cudmore, Lauren Hayes and Mark Samuel. Pierre Jolicoeur was Chef d'Equipe.

Meredith Beerbaum of Germany cruised to the winner’s circle in the $100,000 Cosequin U.S. Open Jumper Championship, presented by Canadian National during the finale of the 2002 Cosequin Winter Equestrian Festival. This was the first major grand prix victory for Beerbaum aboard Shutterfly, a nine-year-old Hanoverian owned by Nancy Clark of Palm Beach.

“He (Shutterfly) deserved it,” said Beerbaum. “Except for the first week, he’s been clear in the first rounds.”

Only nine of the initial 45 entries, which featured riders from nine countries, reached the tie-breaking jump-off by riding without penalty over the original 17-effort course designed by Jose Gamarra of Bolivia. Beerbaum raced through the seven-effort jump-off course with a time of 37.87 seconds earning $30,000 for the win. Canada’s Eric Lamaze up on Millcreek Raphael was second with a fault-free jump-off time of 42.48 seconds. Kevin Babington of Ireland, aboard Carling King, finished third with a fault-free jump-off time of 43.00 seconds. Todd Minikus of Loxahatchee, FL aboard Oh Star, finished fourth. The top four finishers were from four countries.

The $7,500 Cosequin 1.45m prize went to McLain Ward. Ward, on Puertos Mortero, a 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood, was one of 50 initial horse-and-rider combinations to jump a clean round finishing with the fastest time of 59.90 seconds. Both second and third places went to Beezie Madden of Cazenovia, NY. Madden up on Conquest II, an 11-year-old stallion owned by Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Patton of Cedarburg, WI, had a fault-free performance and finished in 61.27 seconds. Madden and her mount, Cloud Nine, a 10-year-old Hanoverian also owned by Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Patton of Cedarburg, WI, jumped clear and finished in third place with a time of 62.23 seconds.

Wellington local Candice King aboard Caliskan, a 10-year-old German-bred gelding owned by Elizabeth Johnson of Boston, captured the $25,000 Ariat WEF Challenge Cup. The duo, one of only 6 horse-and-rider combinations to make it to the jump-off, crossed the timers in 29.93 seconds. Second place went to Eric Lamaze of Ontario, Canada up on his mount Millcreek Raphael, a 12 year-old Hanoverian. The pair finished just splits behind King in 30.87 seconds.

Germany’s Markus Beerbaum aboard Leena, placed third with four faults and a time of 28.19 seconds.

Australia’s Damian B. Guthrie took top honors in the $10,000 Cosequin 1.50m Classic. Guthrie of New South Wales, Australia bested a field of 27 starters aboard his mount Bob’s Your Uncle, a 14-year-old Thoroughbred, clearing the course with the fastest time of 43.51 seconds. Second place went to McLain Ward on Puertos Mortero with four faults and a time of 40.19 seconds.

The 2002 Cosequin Winter Equestrian Festival offers 3 million in total prizes during an eleven-week series, which runs in Wellington, FL (January 23-March 10) and Tampa, FL (March 13-March 31). The Festival hosts the $200,000 Budweiser American Invitational at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa on Saturday evening, March 30. The series then returns to Wellington for the culminating event—the American Grandprix Association Championship—April 3-7.

For more information on the Cosequin Winter Equestrian Festival and all the exciting events and activities, please call Stadium Jumping, Inc. at (813) 253-2782 or in Wellington at (561) 793-JUMP or visit www.stadiumjumping.com.